How long will King Charles's Coronation service last?
6 May 2023, 10:35
King Charles and wife Camilla are being coronated in one of the biggest royal events in history - but how long will the ceremony go on for? What time does the service finish?
Royal fans across the world are dedicating their time to watch King Charles and his wife Camilla be crowned in a packed schedule of coronation celebrations - but how long will it all last?
From the Westminster Abbey Coronation service, to a Red Arrows flypast and a show-stopping Coronation Concert, the celebrations are expected to go on for a whole weekend.
And with an extra bank holiday day to help mark the occasion, many fans across the UK will be taking the opportunity to spend time with friends and family.
Read more: How much will King Charles's Coronation cost and who pays for it?
Read more: Why King Charles III broke tradition and chose Diamond Jubilee Coach for coronation procession
So how long will King Charles's Coronation last? And in particular, how long is the service at Westminster Abbey? Here's the details.
How long will the Coronation ceremony last? What time will the service finish?
The main event of coronation weekend is the ceremony itself where Charles and Camilla will officially be crowned.
In 1953, when Queen Elizabeth had her Coronation, the service in Westminster lasted three hours. However, King Charles's is expected to last just two.
Charles and Camilla are expected to finish their ceremony at 1pm.
Everything you need to know about the King’s coronation
How long will King Charles's Coronation celebrations last?
In total, the public celebrations will last three days - Saturday 6th, Sunday 7th and Monday 8th May. A brief look at the celebrations are:
Saturday 6th
King Charles and Camilla will depart from Buckingham Palace at 10:20am making their way to Westminster Abbey for the ceremony at 11am.
Following the service, they will depart the Abbey, and make their way back to the palace in a much grander procession which is likely to include key members of the royal family too.
Around 15 members of the family will then gather alongside Prince Charles on the balcony at Buckingham Palace and await the Red Arrows flypast, should the weather permit it.
Sunday 7th
Coronation lunches will happen where people are invited to share food with members of their community.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be hosting his own at 10 Downing Street.
In the evening, there will the Coronation Concert which features exclusive performances and some worldwide acts including Lionel Richie and Katy Perry.
Monday 8th
The extra bank holiday day is being used to host the 'Big Help Out' scheme where King Charles is encouraging the public to volunteer for local causes.
